Letters from our readers

March 27, 2012

Jarema chose to disobey the law

Editor:

The recent Charlevoix County Court FOIA decision should serve as a wake up call to all citizens of Charlevoix County.

Judge Johnson rebuked county prosecutor John Jarema for his failure to forward select emails to the Petoskey News-Review. Specifically, Judge Johnson wrote "Jarema's refusal to produce the non-exempt documents or portions of documents was not the result of an oversight or mistake ... His actions ... were arbitrary and capricious." In other words, John Jarema chose to disobey the law. Mr. Jarema is required to obey and enforce the law.

Shockingly, Mr. Jarema's actions were defended by county commission members. Joel Evans stated " ... this was a big waste of time and money ..." (Petoskey News-Review, page A10). I would think Mr. Evans would want to know how Mr. Jarema's actions caused this "... waste of time and money." Chris Christensen declared, "it's now time to move on," and Jarema "... passionate in prosecuting cases." (Petoskey News-Review, page A10). Mr. Christensen should be demanding accountability, and require Mr. Jarema prosecute this apparent law violation.

When our elected officials act as though the law does not apply to them, and act in an "... arbitrary and capricious manner" they are not doing their job. When other elected officials fail to require accountability, they suppress free and fair government. They are not following the law, and thus, the people are not enjoying the fruits of democracy. Rather, the people are suffering from the travails of tyranny.

Thomas Johnson,Petoskey

Save Social Security. Smoke!

Editor:

The battle to negate the $1 million an hour spent on marketing tobacco products to American youth has recently been a losing one. A better strategy to encourage our young people to avoid tobacco products might be to urge them to begin smoking in order to save Social Security for the longer-living non-smokers among us.

Bob Ross, Pellston

Spring is time to pick up along our roadways

Editor:

When the snow disappears from the roadsides, an ugly truth appears: trash in the form of beer cans, plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, even large cardboard boxes.

Trash blooms ahead of the trout lilies, the marsh marigolds and the trilliums.

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful place, but we are not separate from the environment. We are connected to the earth, trees and water.

If you cannot adopt a highway (state program) or a road (county project) and pick up trash, keep the area around your mailbox and driveway clean. Tend to your own patch, and then consider going a bit further and cleaning up someone else's patch.

Let's celebrate the vernal equinox as we walk, bike and drive the roads of our counties.

We should not have to avert our eyes or dodge refuse.

Think of picking up litter as a way to renew your connection to nature.